Forbes has released a list of the Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes in 2025, and it's no surprise who's in first place—Cristiano Ronaldo! He earned a whopping $275 million USD, of which $225 million came from his games and $50 million from endorsements and businesses.
Next on the list is NBA's Stephen Curry, known as the “greatest shooter of all time.” He earned $156 million USD, a large portion of which came from his endorsements. Tyson Fury, a boxing champ from the UK, came in third with $146 million USD.
Various sports are represented in the top 10 such as NFL, NBA, boxing, MLB, and football (soccer). The list also includes Dak Prescott, Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Juan Soto, Karim Benzema, Shohei Ohtani, and Kevin Durant.
Although these are top-performing athletes, it is notable that all men are on the list. This shows that women’s sports still have a long way to go when it comes to equal pay.
Athletes' investments weren't just in their athletic talent—they also used social media, own businesses, and brand collaborations to further grow their income. This is proof that in today's era, being famous and smart in business is just as important as being good at sports.
